OREGON ZOO – With Baby Samudra getting bigger every day, space for the massive mammals is running out. But a bigger home may be on the way for the elephants at the Oregon Zoo.

Bond Measure 26-96 would expand the elephants’ zoo habitat from 1.5 acres to six acres. It would also give them a 100 acre facility offsite.

Thursday morning, an animal rights group protested the measure.

The group In Defense of Animals, said the Zoo’s handling practices are outdated and inhumane. They believe the zoo should not expand until it changes its treatment of the animals.

“To build a new and better exhibit here is not a bad thing,” Zoo keeper and In Defense of Animals protester Phil Prewett said. “But to spend this much money and still manage the animals with the outdated free contact method is wrong.”

The free contact method refers to a practice where zoo keepers interact with the elephants without a barrier between them.

In Defense of Animals said that practice is unsafe for both the animal and keeper.

Another method in question is what zoo keepers call a guide, and what protesters call a bullhook. It’s a rod with a small, metal hook at the end, that’s used to train and guide elephants.

In Defense of Animals claims the tool is cruel.

“In order to have an effect the elephant needs to fear this weapon,” In Defense of Animals director Suzanne Roy said. “In order to fear this weapon, it has to inflict physical pain.”

But zoo keepers maintained that the tool is completely safe and that they treat the elephants with the utmost care. They said the animal rights group is confusing the issue.

“It doesn't make sense the way the elephants are managed and has nothing to do with how they are housed,” Zoo Keeper Bob Lee said. “I don't understand how anyone says I don't want them to have better housing because of the way you work with them. If I disagree with the way you work with them, then let's all fight to get them a better house, then we'll talk about the way you work them.”

Lee said the elephants are in desperate need of more room and improved facilities. And he said, since the zoo already treats the animals well, that should be the main concern.

“You want to meet it's social needs, it's physical needs, it's psychological needs,” Lee said. “And in order to do that, we need the bond measure to have those facilities.”